Comments on: Cameron praises civil partnerships but prepares to put Iain Duncan Smith in charge of familieshttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/
PinkNews Gay news, reviews and comment from Europe's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans news serviceTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:37:00 +0000hourly1By: Sister Mary Clarencehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-78622
Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:14:33 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-78622ursus262 can I just thank yuo for such a sensible and thought provoking posting. I used to work for Labour and it is for a number of the reasons you have given that hey have lost my support.

Very few people here actually see further that the single issue of equality (which ironically is all but out of the hands of the British government anyway).

Like your partner I was recently the subject of an anti-terroist search, which at the time i believed was wrong and upon investigation I now find was illegal.

Civil rights have gone down the toilet with the State closing in on us all the time. The anti-terroist police are now performing a number of the functions carried out by the ‘secret’ police in East Germany. New Labour has also introduced an Enabling Act, which fundamentally undermines the very principles of the democracy this country has enjoyed for centuries.

It is frightening to watch the spread of State control over so many things and even more frightening that so few people are noticing or caring.

]]>By: Nevillehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76887
Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:41:55 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76887What an Orwellian world Ursus lives in: Some animals are more equal than others!
]]>By: Pumpkin Piehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76852
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:56:46 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76852No person in the history of political debate has ever given a good reason for banning gay adoption. It’s a position that is both utterly inhumane and completely unscientific.
]]>By: ursus262http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76829
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:01:24 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76829I assume, from the comments made above, that these are your opinions as opposed to a statement of fact. And yes, I am opposed to the principle of equality in all cases. I say that as a gay man. That is my opinion.
]]>By: Nevillehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76821
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:29:35 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76821Ursus is clearly not concerned with the principle of equality. This is underlined by the dismissal of gay adoption. Gay adoption per se is not the whole point which is the denial of equality for gay people. If this element of equality is removed because of Roman Catholic pressure (Duncan Smith), then what is the next step?
Let us not forget that the Roman Catholic Church is strongly opposed to gay marriage and to civil partnerships.
]]>By: JohnKhttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76782
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:51:33 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76782Cllr Stephen Ellis wrote
“I’ve met Iain Duncan-Smith on a number of occasions. He is one of the most genuine and sincere people you could ever wish to meet. I don’t know what his personal views are on such matters and therefore I’m not going to comment.”

Sticking your head in the sand is one way of coping with your parties heterosexism and homophobia . . .

With regards Mr Ian Duncan Smiths views with about the LGBT community – when he uses terms like “Downgrade” . . . let me put this succintly, we are not a community that will accept a second class status in relation to heterosexuals.

]]>By: ursus262http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76746
Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:59:36 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76746Over the next few months, we will be experiencing an election campaign the likes of which we haven’t seen for a generation. During this time, we will all have to make our minds up as to which way we are going to vote. It has been made all the more difficult for me because although Labour has shown commitment to equality, it has consistently undermined the civil liberties of all of us, whether we are gay or straight. They have adopted an anti-democratic, managerial (read: dictatorial) approach to running the country with its targets, initiatives, focus groups and an obsession with managing from the centre. Only recently, I have received bullying letters from a quango and last week my civil partner was stopped and searched, for no reason, in St Pancras station for the purposes of preventing terrorism.

My partner and I fear for the future of our country, which is falling apart before our eyes. We have gained equality, but lost some of our basic human rights along the way. Things are so bad now, especially now that the country is effectively broke, that we’ve decided to move to France for a better future.

I find it disappointing that, on here, there is so much cant and mud-slinging. IDS’s recommendation that the right of same-sex couples to adopt be “downgraded” does not matter much to us and I suspect most other gay people are not really interested in the issue. Furthermore, nobody can take it for granted that all gay and lesbian people are in favour of gay adoption. I certainly am not in favour, neither is my partner. And I just think that there are more important issues to deal with right now.

An elected government doesn’t just govern for minorities like us – they govern for everyone. We are sensible enough to look outwards at the real issues that affect us all. David Cameron, when referring to the surveillance state that had been created by New Labour, said that he would sweep the whole rotten edifice away and for that, and that alone, he gets my vote.

We are voting for parties, not individuals. The vast majority of the Conservative party has a terrible record of voting for LGBT rights.

I don’t know what his personal views are on such matters and therefore I’m not going to comment.

Oh, he’s made it abundantly clear what his views on the matter are a couple of times. The links at the bottom of the page will help you find out, as will Google.

]]>By: Sister Mary Clarencehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76732
Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:02:05 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76732Well done mate – there’s some on here that don’t believe that people like you really exist – gay Tories, and elected as a local councillor as well.

No doubt unless you were elected BECAUSE you were gay, rather than elected AND gay, they’ll still be in denial.

David Cameron rightly said that Civil Partnerships were one of the good things that Labour had done. He also said that marriage and civil partnerships should be recognised in the tax system. As many people are aware, he’s already said the Party was wrong over Section 28 and he has apologised for it. At an event I attended in London, he also admitted that his own voting record hadn’t been the best and that he too had been wrong. You can’t say fairer than that. I’ve never heard Gordon Brown speak on any LGBT matter let alone say anything open, honest or fair about such things.

I’ve met Iain Duncan-Smith on a number of occasions. He is one of the most genuine and sincere people you could ever wish to meet. I don’t know what his personal views are on such matters and therefore I’m not going to comment. However, I should stress that the Centre for Social Justice is a separate body and is not part of the Conservative Party – like many think tanks. Therefore, it’s wrong to imply that such views would become Party policy.

Stephen Ellis
Deputy Chairman, LGBTory

]]>By: Simon Murphyhttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76692
Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:43:15 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76692No 47: Vulpus Rex: you say: “Could I also just confirm to the various numpties on board that the Centre for Social Justice is not actually the Conservative party.”

Of course it’s not. We all know that.

But how appropriate is it to have a member of a specifically homophobic organisation, try to ‘mend broken society’?

IDS is a homophobe.

He should not be allowed anywhere near a post where he can try to inflict his homophobia on all of society.

]]>By: Robert, ex-pat Brithttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76576
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:23:21 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76576Vicky, Mal, expect NO marriage equality in the UK, not going to happen. As for their being equal to marriage, where is that written in the law? The marriage causes act of 1973 has NOT been amended as far as I know to clarify it. There is NO law in the UK stating that gay couples can legally marry. If they are the same as marriage, why aren’t they officially recognised as such. Proof that they’re not is when you have to go overseas to legally marry. Upon your return, the legal marriage certificate you have in your hands is not recognised as a marriage but as a second class civil partnership. An obviously convenient case of dyslexia by the government be it tory or labour for that matter. This is not a question of semantics as the apologists who post here try to push on us. They’re in denial about a lot of things. Their argument is lame and you have to ask them, if civil partnerships are so equal to marriage, which of course they’re not….why is it that more countries are abandoning them for full marriage? Why?
]]>By: Jamiehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76547
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:06:41 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76547No mention in your article that David Cameron will recognise both marriage AND civil partnerships in the tax system.

Why not?

]]>By: Riondohttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76541
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:46:07 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76541Cameron talks fluffy but he is in hock to the Right. He owes his position to them even though he doesn’t believe all the same things they do. Is he principled – or ruthless enough – to tackle them? Don’t hold your breath.
]]>By: Janehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76538
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:26:43 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76538IDS’s Catholic agenda will always take precedence, although of course it will be presented as “family values”. He’ll have the same attitudes and the same approach as Ruth Kelly, supposedly intelligent people who swallow their Church’s claptrap verbatim.
]]>By: Nevillehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76536
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:19:52 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76536Poor Sister Mary has all the zeal of a convert, just like Anne Widdlebum! The point about the existence of several think tanks is irrelevant when it comes to Duncan Smith. Please remember that Cameron went out of his way in his speech to eulogise Duncan Smith. This folly coupled with an indication that the homophobic Roman Catholic will have a place in any possible Cameron administration leads to a certain unease at the very least!
]]>By: Dougiehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76526
Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:28:41 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76526Sister Mary Clarence as Michael Winner says, “calm down, dear”.

I tend to agree with Dave, the Tories have to overturn a hundred seat majority first. LGBT issues will not be upper most in peoples’ minds; many of the electorate will have tax credits to consider when casting their vote.

Really, any Cameron lead government will only serve a Countryside Alliance agenda and reversal of fox hunting ban. They will also cause trouble for the divolved Parliament and a reduction of Scottish MPs at Westminster. I don’t think there would be any room in parliamentary time for LGBT issues of any kind.

All the best.

L

]]>By: JohnKhttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76511
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:07:52 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76511There is no doubt that David Cameron appears to deliver all the right “Sound Bites” with regards LGBT issues

. . . However that cannot be said for those he surrounds himself with . . . Ian Duncan Smith . . . Philippa Stoud to mention but a few.

]]>By: Sister Mary Clarencehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76505
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:43:27 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76505Could I also just confirm to the various numpties on board that the Centre for Social Justice is not actually the Conservative party.

Various think tanks (left and right) have views on all sorts of things, and it makes poke all difference to party policy, so if you’ve got nothing better to do than cite what you heard when you were drunk and standing in the queue at the petrol station buying fish fingers and micro chips as fact, you really need to get out more (and preferably not just to the petrol station)

]]>By: Sister Mary Clarencehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/comments/#comment-76503
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:38:24 +0000http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/08/cameron-civil-partnerships-a-good-thing/#comment-76503Darrien – yes – David Cameroon has stated that the Conservatives will treat civil partnerships and marriage as equal. It has been stated that when refering to ‘marriage’ this term included civil partnerships. I believe Labour are maintaining that the two are not the same.

Rose:

“If the tories get in, EVERYONE except the upper middle classes will suffer. LGBT people seem the only ones who’ve realised it yet!!!! ”

Labour have lost the BME vote. They have lost the council estate vote and they have lost the gay vote. Do you NEVER read, listen to, or watch the news?